Rug with removable insert

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a rug with a removable insert particularly suitable to be utilized in areas with equipments for bathing and personal hygiene, belonging to the range of home textile rugs, characterized in that it has at least one removable insert ( 4 ) and one so called rug ( 2 ) with at least one bag/pocket in that each removable insert ( 4 ) , is resilient, is flat monolayer or with honeycomb cavities and is totally waterproof, either by virtue of its own material or by virtue of being provided with a waterproof lining cover, and in that each bag/pocket has at least one opening ( 31 ).

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a rug with a removable insertparticularly suitable to be utilized in areas with equipments forbathing and personal hygiene, as in the case of bathrooms.

The invented rug with an insert was designed in order to solve thetechnical problems that arise when a traditional rug is placed in ahumid area.

Furthermore, the above mentioned rug was also designed to provide a highlevel of comfort to the user.

The invention is of interest to the textile industry and in particularto the home textile branch.

Previous Technical State

There are numerous known rugs for interior use in buildings, many merelywith decorative purposes.

The invented rug with an insert does not imply any limitation from adecorative point of view, but aims at solving various technicalproblems.

Indeed, the traditional rugs, when used in bath areas, for example, asbath mats, are, either too thin, having low absorption and beingunstable, this meaning, that they become very easily shriveled, or theyhave a certain thickness, that gives an advantage of a greater abilityto absorb water and thus provide comfort to the user, but on the otherhand, represents a major disadvantage in regard to drying time thereof.

It is therefore essential to solve the problem of water absorption, whenuser leaves the bath with wet feet, without compromising the drying ofthe rug.

The bathrooms of family homes are, traditionally, poorly ventilatedinterior spaces.

A rug with a certain thickness, if, after a bath, is not removed andtaken to a dry location, it will eventually have a bad smell, becomesanti-hygienic and suffers premature aging.

The invented rug aims to solve these problems, that is, to provide agood absorption of water, without making it difficult to dry.

Thus, the invented rug has a resilient monolayer insert, that avoids theuse of seams and adhesives, which is an adopted traditional solution inthe padded items constituted by layers.

The multilayer materials result from the union usually by gluingmaterials of various natures, behaving differently when subject towashing, especially in traditional washing machines.

This problem that causes the early degradation of materials and itsunion, is more significant, as bigger is the rug.

Based on the above, it is understood that this problem does not affectthe invented rug, thus, it has an appropriate solution from anenvironmental point of view.

Additionally, the rug which we intend to patent is designed toconstitute a compact set to give it stability, avoiding wrinkles andfolds.

It is also foreseen that it will be equipped with an anti-slip device,every time there is a risk of slipping.

To attend to these problems, the invented rug is constituted by a socalled rug, made up of a bag/pocket and an insert, this one removableand waterproof, by virtue of its own material, or by a waterproof liningcover.

These and other technical features from which arise various advantages,are described in detail hereunder.

For a better understanding of the description that follows, it should benoted that the invention as a whole, that is, incorporating the insert,shall be called the rug, the invented rug, or by rug with removableinsert.

In turn, the designation of the so called rug, corresponds to the rugwithout the insert.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a rug characterized by being provided with atleast one removable insert and one so called rug.

The so called rug is equipped with at least one bag/pocket between theupper layer with absorbent fur and its lower canvas.

The upper layer is characterized by having a weight between 0.31 kg/m²and 3.0 kg/m² and with a height of fur or loops being between 2.0 mm and55.0 mm.

The recommended solution permits the invented rug to be called apre-washed cotton rug.

This aspect is very important, because a so called cotton rug, with aweight of 2.0 kg/m², after washing suffers a normal shrinkage between 8%and 16%.

Thereafter, the so called rug may be washed by the user, and there willbe no dimensional alterations worthy of registering, nor jeopardizedimensional stability of the invented rug, this is, the adjustmentbetween the so called rug and the insert.

The inferior surface of the so called rug, which is the surface of thecanvas that is placed on the ground, can incorporate non-slip material.

The insert is resilient, is flat monolayer or in the form honeycombcavities and is totally waterproof, either by virtue of its on materialor by virtue of the waterproof lining cover.

The insert can be of polyurethane, polyurethane-base or rubber.

It can also be of foam or viscoelastic foam, and should, in these cases,be totally wrapped in waterproof lining cover.

It is expected that the insert be flat, but can also be in the form ofhoneycomb cavities.

The waterproof lining cover can be made of waterproof fabric withoutroughness.

This lining cover which incorporates the invention only when the insertis not produced in non-waterproof material, not only prevents the insertfrom water absorption, as well as facilitates the entry of the setinsert/lining, into the bag/pocket—as the friction is minimum—thus thelining cover will not be responsible for a stiff insert.

By this description, it is understood that the rug with the removableinsert can have a honeycomb cavities structure, thus each cavity isfilled with the respective insert.

It is therefore, an industrial product particularly suitable for use inbathrooms.

Each insert is responsible for giving volume to the invented rug andcontributes to its total weight, it is understood that, by removing theinsert or inserts from one sample of the invented rug, the so called rugcan easily be folded, rolled or transported.

It can also be washed in current washing machines, which is an importantadvantage compared to known rugs, that are one-piece, full-bodied orbetter, an inseparable piece.

The so called rug can be used without the insert, particularly in spaceswhere it is not usual for people to walk barefoot and the insert canalso be used individually, that is without the so called rug, such as,for practice of physical exercise, as if it were a exercise mat or smallmattress.

However, the invented rug was essentially designed to provide comfort inbath rooms traditionally built with cold materials, such as ceramics andmarble stone.

The insert gives comfort because it isolates the feet, or any other partof the body, from the cold floor and is not saturated with water becauseit is isolated.

Furthermore, the insert that gives body to the so called rug, preventswrinkling or folding during use.

The rug remains stretched and attached to the floor.

Not less important, is the fact that the insert, when made in a materialthat can become saturated with water, which is the case of aviscoelastic sponge, to remain entirely protected by the waterprooflining cover, namely, by the penetration of water, to always guaranteethe conservation of its initial properties, which would not occur if thesponge was in contact with the water.

It is foreseen that the bag/pocket or bags/pockets be peripheral orpositioned in line with the outer contour of the so called rug for easyinsertion of the respective inserts.

The closure of the bags/pockets can be guaranteed by means of velcro.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the attached drawings, presented as a means of an example and notrestrictive, one can see, the invented device and its parts asreferenced below:

1—rug

2—so called rug

3—bag/pocket

31—opening of bag/pocket

4—insert (removable)

42—waterproof lining cover

10—upper layer of the so called rug

11—lower canvas of the so called rug

15—anti-slip

51—handle

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a rug (1) according to the invention,that is, a rug with a removable insert, in which, the inferior side isturned upward showing a anti-slip finish (15) and also showing theopening of the bag/pocket (31), as well as the handle (51) thatfacilitates the opening of the so called bag/pocket (31).

FIG. 2 represents, in perspective, a rug (1), with the inferior sidealso turned upward showing a anti-slip finish (15) and showing twoopenings of the bag/pocket (31), one on each end, and also therespective handles (51).

FIG. 3 represents, in perspective, the so called rug (2), the opening ofthe bag/pocket (31) with a handle—being visible the “mouth” of thebag/pocket—also the insert (4) highlighted from the so called rug (2).

FIG. 4 represents a variation of the previous Figure in which the socalled rug (2) integrates two openings in the bag/pocket (31), one oneach end, as well as the respective handles (51), being visible theupper layer of the so called rug (10), also the insert (4) highlightedfrom the so called rug (2).

FIG. 5 represents a variation of the previous Figure—showing the socalled rug (2), the two openings of the bag/pocket (31), the respectivehandles (51), the upper layer of the so called rug (10)—the onlydifference is that the bag/pocket is filled with two inserts (4) thatare placed side by side (juxtaposed).

FIG. 6 represents a cut AA indicated in FIG. 3, showing the so calledrug (2) with an empty bag/pocket (3), and showing the lower canvas ofthe so called rug (11) and is impregnated with anti-slip (15) on theoutside.

FIG. 7 represents the same cut AA, assuming the insert (4) isincorporated into the so called rug—so, the cut shows a rug (1) as perthe invention—the so called rug remains with the inferior side turnedupwards and, so, the upper layer of the so called rug (10), or thefluffy layer, is turned downwards.

FIG. 8 represents a cross section of an insert (4) according to theinvention, which by not being waterproof is fully wrapped in awaterproof lining cover (42).

In more detail, the above mentioned Figures show possible embodiments ofthe invention, wherein the invented rug provides as many bags/pockets(3), as inserts (4).

It is also foreseen that, the same bag/pocket, for example, with doubleopening—openings on both ends—can accommodate two inserts that will beplaced side by side (juxtaposed).

Each insert will have, preferentially, a thickness between 5.0 mm and30.0 mm, not being compulsory that a certain so called rug (2)incorporates inserts all with the same thickness.

Each bag/pocket (3) can be closed by velcro closure type, zip, or othertraditional and rapid opening/closing devices.

On the other hand, the identification label of the rug characteristicsor of its origin, or even its brand, can be placed in the “mouth” of thebag/pocket in order to function as a handle and to facilitate theopening of the bag/pocket, especially in the case of using velcro typeclosure.

Particularly in the case of the invented rug having only one insert (4)and having a praiseworthy size, it will be advantageous for thebag/pocket (3) to have two openings (31) the insert may be introduced inone opening and pushed through the other.

1. Rug (1) that falls into the range of home textile rugs, characterizedin that it has at least one removable insert (4) and one so called rug(2) with at least one bag/pocket (3), in that each removable insert (4)is resilient, is flat monolayer or with honeycomb cavities and istotally waterproof, either by virtue of its own material or by virtue ofbeing provided with a waterproof lining cover (42), and in that eachbag/pocket (3) has at least one opening (31).
 2. Rug (1) in accordancewith the claim No. 1, characterized in that the upper layer of the socalled rug (10) has a weight between 0.31 kg/m² and 3.0 kg/m² and inthat the height of the fur or loop is in the range between 2.0 mm and55.0 mm.
 3. Rug (1) in accordance with the claim No. 1, characterized inthat each opening of the bag/pocket (31) is positioned in line with theouter contour of the so called rug (2).
 4. Rug (1) in accordance withthe claim No. 1, characterized in that each opening/closing of thebag/pocket (3) is made by means of quick opening/closing devicessituated in the “mouth” of the bag/pocket and in that these devices arevelcro type, zip, or dome fastener system.
 5. Rug (1) in accordance withthe claim No. 1, characterized in that each opening of the bag/pocket(31) is equipped with a handle (51).
 6. Rug (1) in accordance with theprevious claim characterized in that the handle (51) and the tag are thesame.
 7. Rug (1) in accordance with the claim No. 1, characterized inthat the exterior part of the canvas of the so called rug (11) isequipped with non-slip material (15).
 8. Rug (1) in accordance with theclaim No. 1, characterized in that the insert (4) is of polyurethane orrubber.
 9. Rug (1) in accordance with the claim No. 1, characterized inthat the insert (4) if of foam or viscoelastic sponge totally wrapped ina waterproof lining cover (42).
 10. Rug (1) in accordance with the claimNo. 1, characterized in that the waterproof lining cover (42) isconstituted by the waterproof material without roughness.